Engage Your Four-Legged Friends in Environmental Research!

By providing pet food packaging samples to be tested for toxic chemicals.

We'd like to invite you and your four-legged friends to participate in our environmental research that will lead to safer pet food and healthier pets.

What: Following up on our new study of food can linings for people food, the HealthyStuff team is launching a study of food packaging for our beloved pets. The study, Buyer Beware: Toxic BPA & Regrettable Substitutes in the Linings of Canned Food, identified a number of potentially hazardous coatings being used in food can linings for human food. We want to know if similar hazards exist in pet food packaging. You can help by providing us samples of cans or bags used for pet food. We'll test the packaging and report back to you, and you'll be part of a study, which will help reduce potential hazards to your pets.

How to participate: You may submit up to four packaging samples purchased in the past 3 months. All packaging should be individually contained in a paper or plastic bag.

Cans: Empty and thoroughly clean the inside of the pet food can. Scrub it well; you won't damage it. Place lid and can body in a zip lock or paper bag. Include a completed sample submission form in each bag.

Bagged Food: Cut out a "dollar bill" sized sample of the food bag. Place this sample a zip lock or paper bag. Include a completed sample submission form in each bag.

Each sample must have a sample submission form filled out or it will not be analyzed. The form must include an email for the person submitting the sample, sample name, retail store and date purchased. Include a receipt of possible; otherwise, estimate the purchase date. Samples will be analyzed for a report to be issued later this year. Individual sample results will be reported to participants over the summer.

When: We will be collecting samples beginning Saturday, April 23rd, 2016. Please download sample submission form and mail sample to:

Attn: HealthyStuff.org Pet Food Packaging Samples

Ecology Center

339 E. Liberty St. Suite 300

Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Published on April 19, 2016

We'd like to invite you and your four-legged friends to participate in our environmental research that will lead to safer pet food and healthier pets.